Cycle News - Archive Issues - 2000's

would have ended the race. Instead, he said, "I'll take the points. Vincent [Haskovec] is not going to do the series." Barnes also noted that Haskovec had "20 ponies on me." That, and a soft front tire choice he regretted, sealed his fate. That said, Barnes was happy to be on the track. The deal with Venemotos Yamaha and Prieto Racing had only come together a week before the race. Wood was also on a lesser-powered machine, which meant he wasn't disappOinted to finish third. "I was able to run a couple of laps with Aaron Gobert," Wood said, "but they started to drop me off a little bit at the end." Jason Perez finished fourth, with Chris CN Peris fifth. Wood ROnJps By HENNY he first Formula USA final of the season was red-nagged on the first lap. It wasn't a good omen. It was the first of many unwanted interruptions over the course of Sunday's races at Daytona International Speedway. In between the red nags there were races. The Formula Sportbike final wasn't one of them until the very end. Jeff Wood made sure of that. The Arclight Suzuki rider got the jump on the field and split. The only rider to pressure him was Yamaha's Aaron Gobert, who had to cut through the entire field. He and his teammates had been forced to start from the back row after choosing not to make the mandatory dyno run following qualifying. Winning wasn't their intent. The Yamaha team was using the CCS/F-USA weekend as practice for Thursday's AMA Supersport race. The 6.S-second lead that Wood once had evaporated as Wood slowed toward the end and nearly highsided in the International Horseshoe, site of many red flag incidents. A handful of turns later, Gobert made a pass for the lead in the final left before turning right toward the T RAy ABRAMS backstretch on the 14th lap. "He got by me going into the last left of the new section, and I got back by him exiting the chicane," Wood said. "I think he ran off behind me." On the penultimate lap, Gobert did indeed pit, as did Yamaha's Jason DiSalvo, who pulled in after moving up to second on the final lap. Wood's margin of victory over KWS Motorsports' Lee Acree was S.802 seconds. Scott Harwell, on the second Arclight Suzuki, was third. "I was kind of getting tired at the end," Wood said. "He [Gobert] came up and pushed me. I made a few mistakes, but I pulled it back together and got it going again." Wood said the new layout allowed him to break away from the pack. "It adds more technical riding to the track. I think it's a good thing," he said. Acree hooked up with his former teammate and defending class champion Harwell and Kneedraggers.com Yamaha's Robert Jensen almost from the beginning. Jensen held second as late as the seventh lap before first Harwell, then Acree made their way past. Those two pulled slightly away from Jensen, but by then Wood was long gone. ~aTnestnTming he Thunderbike final ran 10 laps start to finish, but not before two red flags. That meant three starts, three chances for a holeshot. Michael Barnes got them all. From the pole position, the veteran Floridian put the Prieto Racing Suzuki SV6S0 out front with complete authority each and every time, and on the third start it was clear the win was his. His lap times were nearly four seconds a lap better than second best, a gap reflected in the 38.1 12second margin of victory. It didn't hurt that Dave Estok, of nearby New Smyrna Beach, pulled out on the first lap of the third start. ''The difference was Dave Estok broke, and I didn't have to worry about his competition this weekend," Barnes said. "I T guess he had some kind of problem." David Yaakov was second, on another Suzuki SV6S0, with Dan Bilansky and his Buell third. Barnes dedicated the win and the prize money to fellow Floridian Steve Servis, who'd been injured in a race at Homestead-Miami Raceway. Barnes said Servis was home recuperating. "This will give him some incentive to get well quick," Barnes said. "I hope he gets better soon." Bilansky, the lone Buell on the rostrum, said the Suzukis had some speed and were good through the new track section. He was well behind Yaakov at the end but not in any danger of being caught from behind by the Rozynski brothers, Sam in fourth and Joe in fifth. CN DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA RESULTS: MARCH 6, 200S (ROUND 1) (Suz); 2. Md"'; a.m.. (Yom); 3. jeff Wood (Suz); 4. ja>on I\nz (Yom); 5. on _ (Yam); 6. Soott G'eenwood (Yom); 7. Blake YOU'€ (Suz); B. Cv10 Gag4Wdo (Yom); 9. Annando Ferre.- I\nz (Yom); 10. _ Lore (Yam); II. on IlockweI (Yom); 12. Matt HoI; 13. Ryan Paaenon (Yom); 14. _ poni5h (Suz); IS........ 1'1cCom1d< (Yom); 16. Nadm Hemr(Yom~ 17. Robert Lorrbod; 18. SlANe """" (Kaw); 19.1lodoIfo _ (Suz); 20. Robert jeo-.en (Suz); 21. jooephMco; 22. Josel-- (Han); 2J. Roge< Bel (Suz); 24. v.ao.- a-.- (Yom); 25. GeoIII"by (Suz). SUPERBIK£, I. Voncent ~ "Scott [Harwell] and I passed each other back and forth a couple of times in the first lap, and Jeff [Wood] already had a gap from that because he had a clean track and was running his lines," Acree said. "Scott and I just made the mistake of battling each other that first lap a little too much. As we battled between me, Scott and Robby Uensen], it just allowed Jeff to keep working away. "With us battling each other and having him already getting the gap right there in the beginning, it ended up being a race among us for the rest of the podium spots." Harwell agreed. "With me and Jensen and Lee [Acree] battling it out, it kind of let my teammate get away from us," he said. Roadracingworld.com's Chris Ulrich CN was fifth, followed by Ryan Elleby. F·USA SUPERBIKE C'SHIP SERIES POINTS STAND· INGS (After I of 8 rounds): I. Vincent Haskovec \35\; 2. M;chael Sames (32); 3. Jeff Wood (29); 4. Jason Perez 26; 5. Chris Pens (23); 6. Scott Greenwood (21); 7. Btake Young 19); B. Carlo GogIiaroo (IB); 9. Annando F""", Pe",z (17); \ O. Barrett Long (16);11. Ch'" Rockwell (IS); 12. Matt Hall (14); 13. Ryan Patterson (Il); 14. Br.ondon P",;,h (12); IS. Mari< McConnick (II); 16. Nathan Hester (10); 17. Roben Lombardi (9): 18. Steve Vento (8); 19. RodoIfo Ramirez (7); 20. Robert Jemen (6). UPCOMING ROUNDS: Round 2 . Elkhart lake, Wisconsin, April 24 Round 3 . Summit Point, West Virginia, May 30 JeH Wood celebrates his victory in the Formula Sportbike final at Daytona. DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA RESULTS: MARCH 6, 2005 (ROUND 1) FORMULA SPORTBIKE, I. Jeff Wood (Suz); 2. Lee Acree (Suz); 3. Scott Harwell (Suz); 4. Robert jensen (Suz): S. Chris Ulrich (Suz): 6. Ryan Elleby (Suz); 7. David Weber (Suz); B. Shawn Conrad (Suz); 9. Brandon Pamsh (Suz); 10 Derek Keyes (Suz); Scott Carpenter (Suz); I2. Btll Green (Suz): 13. Eric. Erling Haugo (Suz); 14. Joseph Spina (502): IS. Chri, Lynd, (Suz); 16. Andy Feuemh~e, (Suz); 17. jason Dlsatvo (Yam); IB. Ryan Andrews (Due): 19. Joe Ribeko (Suz); 20. MkhaeJ Cusano (Kaw); 21. John Briody (Suz); 22. Kev.n Tale (Kaw); 23. N",k WaI,h (Suz); 24. Rick Beggs (Kaw); 25. Bnan Stokes (Suz); 26. Btli Strandahan (Suz); 27. Shannon Huffman (Suz): 28. Kevin Gordon. Time: 27 min., 48.587 sec. Distance: I S ~. +4.25 miles. Average speed: 97.088 mph. Margin or victory: S.802 sec. F·USA SPORTBIKE C'SHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After I of 8 round,), I. Jeff Wood (35); 2 Lee Acree (30): 3. Soott Houwell (26); 4. Raben Jemen (23); 5. Chri, Ulrich (21); 6. Ryan Elleby (19); 7. Dam Weber (18): 8. Shawn Conrad (17); 9. Br.llldon Parrish (16); 10. Derek Keyes (IS); Scott Carpenter (14); 12. Bill Green (13); 13. Eric Eri'ng Haugo (12); 14. Joseph SpO'" (II); IS. Chns lynds (10): 16. Andy FeuerslhaJer (9); 17. Jason DosaJvo (B); lB. Ryan Andrews (7); 19. Joe Ribeko (6); 20. Michael Cusano (5). UPCOMING ROUNDS: Round 2 - Elkhart lake, Wisconsin, April 24 Round 3 . Summit Paint, West Virginia, May 30 DAYTONA INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA RESULTS: MARCH 6, 2005 (ROUND 1) THUNDERBIKE: I. Michael Bames (5uz); 2. David Yaakov (5uz); J. Dan Bilansky (Bue); 4. Sam Rozynski (Bue); 5. Joe Rozynski (Sue); 6. Clint Brotz (Sue); 7. Darren Danilowicz (Sue); B. Robert Fisher (5uz); 9. Nate Kem (BMW); 10. Tim Hall (Sue); II. Paul James (Bue); 12. David White; I J. Scon Korol (Bue); 14. Walt Sipp (Bue); 15.JoshGuyer(Bue); 16. KiyoshigeWatanabe; 17. John Linder (Suz); lB. Michael D~age; 19. Pete Moravek (Suz); 20. Matthew Buck (Suz); 2 t. Chris Young (Sue); 22. Bryan Bemisderfer (Sue); 23. Peter Wlllemse (Hen); 24. Randy Rega (Sue); 25. Darla Martinelli (Sue). Time: 20 min. 8.91 sec. Distance: 10 laps. 29.5 miles. Average speed: B9.933 mph. Margin of victory: 3B.111 sec. F·USA THUNDERBIKE C'SHIP SERIES POINTS STANDINGS (After I of B rounds), I. Michael Barnes (35); 2. Dav;d Yaakov (30); 3. Dan Ililansky (26); 4. Sam Rozynslti (23); 5. Joe Rozynslti (21); 6. Clint Ilroa (19); 7. Darren Danolow>cz (IB); B Robert Fisher (17); 9. Nate Kem (16); 10_ Tm Hall (I 5). II. Paul James (14); 12. Dav;d White (13); 13. Scott Koe (9); 17_ John Under (8); lB. Michael Delage (7); 19. Pete Moravek (6); 20. Manhew Buck (5)_ UPCOMING ROUNDS: Round 2 . Elkhart lake, Wisconsin, April 24 Round 3 . Summit Point, West Virginia, May CYCLE NEWS • MARCH 16,2005 23

• Cover